Surgery

At Children’s Nebraska, our dedicated surgical team ensures your child’s safety and comfort from consultation through recovery.

As the region’s only pediatric-focused medical center, our experts are specially trained in pediatric medicine and understand children’s unique needs and their communication styles. We achieve exceptional outcomes leveraging advanced technology and multidisciplinary collaboration.

Discover how our innovative team successfully navigated and removed a complex, benign tumor from 18-year-old Karys.
Make An Appointment

Contact Surgery

General and Thoracic Surgery: 402-955-7400

For Providers Emergency and Urgent Surgical Needs: 855-850-KIDS (5437)

Our Surgeons

Robert A. Cusick
M.D.

General & Thoracic Surgery
Pediatric Surgery

Megan K. Fuller
M.D.

General & Thoracic Surgery
Pediatric Surgery

Kathy Schall
M.D.

Pediatric Surgery
General & Thoracic Surgery

Adil A. Shah
M.D.

Pediatric Surgery

Melissa K. Suh
M.D.

Pediatric Surgery

Patrick B. Thomas
M.D.

General & Thoracic Surgery
Pediatric Surgery

Abdalla E. Zarroug
M.D.

General & Thoracic Surgery
Pediatric Surgery

Angie E. Cook
PA-C

Pediatric Surgery
General & Thoracic Surgery

Kenzie Espalin
PA-C

Pediatric Surgery
General & Thoracic Surgery

Audrey Gustafson
PA-C

Pediatric Surgery
General & Thoracic Surgery

Sheila A. Horak
APRN-NP

General & Thoracic Surgery
Pediatric Surgery

Blair K. Lowe
APRN-NP

Pediatric Surgery

Kristin Madden
APRN-NP

Pediatric Surgery

Alexandra Parkinson
PA-C

Pediatric Surgery
General & Thoracic Surgery

Why Choose Children’s?


Combined, our surgeons bring about 50 years of experience and over 40 years of training to the operating room.

We have some of the only board-certified pediatric surgeons in Nebraska. Our team also includes specialists in pediatric anesthesiology and fetal care.

By focusing solely on pediatrics, our surgeons and staff are experts at assessing the unique treatment needs of children and teenagers.

We know how to explain procedures at a child-friendly level and help the child and the entire family feel comfortable going into surgery.

We make sure to cover all of your child’s non-medical needs, too.

Our social workers, chaplains, and child life specialists ensure that caring for your child’s psychosocial, emotional, and spiritual health is part of their overall medical care. They help reduce stress before and after procedures and improve the overall hospital experience.

A Leader in Minimally Invasive Surgery

Children’s is the region’s leader in developing and performing new, innovative pediatric minimally invasive surgical procedures.

The majority of surgeries can be performed using these minimally invasive techniques. Small cameras and instruments are placed through tiny incisions (less than 5mm), which leads to faster recovery and healing times, less pain, and lower rates of infection.

General and Thoracic Surgery

Children’s offers surgical treatment for a wide range of medical conditions, including:

  • Achalasia
  • Adolescent Breast Disease
  • Appendicitis
  • Cancer
  • Congenital Pulmonary Airway Malformation (CPAM)
  • Colorectal Conditions
  • Crohn’s Disease
  • Dermoid Cyst
  • Empyema
  • Gallstones
  • Gastroschisis
  • Hydrocele
  • Inflammatory Bowel Disease
  • Inguinal Hernia
  • Intestinal Obstruction
  • Intussusception
  • Lung Disease
  • Neuroblastoma
  • Omphalocele
  • Pancreatic Conditions (Pancreatectomy)
  • Pectus Excavatum
  • Pyloric Stenosis
  • Severe Obesity (Bariatric (Weight Loss) Surgery)
  • Thyroid And Endocrine Conditions
  • Ulcerative Colitis
  • Umbilical Hernia

Learn more about these conditions.

Fetal Care

Children’s is the only hospital in the region with a Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) — the highest level of care for babies. We also have a Fetal Care Center where we provide care for mothers and their babies who need special care before birth. This can include consults with parents so they can learn what to expect once their child is born or fetal surgery on the baby while it is still in the womb.

Preparing for Surgery

 

General And Thoracic Surgery: Conditions And Procedures

Learn about some of the most common surgeries we perform and conditions we treat.

Learn More

 

How to Prepare Your Child (and Yourself) for Surgery

Get your child ready for an upcoming procedure, from packing to post surgical care.

Learn More

 

Your Child’s Hospital Stay

Learn about what to pack, the day-to-day routine, and the services and resources available to your family at Children’s.

Learn More

 

Anesthesia

Anesthesia helps your child avoid pain and possibly fall asleep during surgery. Here’s how we make sure to give anesthesia safely.

Learn More

 

Support Services For Your Child

We offer support services to address your family’s emotional, financial, developmental, spiritual, and educational needs.

Learn More


Patient Spotlight

Karys’ Story: Innovation & Collaboration Provide “Nothing but the Best”

Eighteen-year-old Karys thought her stomach pain was appendicitis. So did her mom, and so did her primary care doctor until the CT scan revealed something else: a massive tumor.

Read More


What To Do Next

For Patients

Make An Appointment

Patients do not need a referral to see one of our surgeons. However, we recommend speaking with your child’s pediatrician first and making sure that you have all of your child’s medical records sent to our department before their first appointment. To make an appointment, call 402-955-7400.

For Referring Providers

The Physicians’ Priority Line is your 24-hour link to pediatric specialists at Children’s for emergency and urgent consults, physician-to-physician consults, admissions, and transport services. Call 855-850-KIDS (5437).
Learn more about referring patients

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